I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
(1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
The St. Pauls Mar Thoma Syrian Church Vashi stands tall and tranquil in the middle of the busy and burgeoning city of Navi Mumbai. Do not be misled by the quiet exterior. For inside is a community which seeks to light the way for all who associate with it. Lighted by the Love, Spirit and Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary.
From being the 1st Mar Thoma Parish in Navi Mumbai which celebrated its Silver Jubilee, in the year 2014, the church and its members remember with gratitude to the Almighty, the long and blessed road travelled. Proudly but yet humbly we look back at the blessed growth in God's Ministry, with the knowledge of the responsibility to share this story with the next budding genertion. So here is a brief history.
The seeds of a Mar Thoma Church in Navi Mumbai were sown as a result of the constant prayer of members of Chembur Mar Thoma Church and Mar Thomite members who lived in Vashi, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. G Varghese. A prayer group was formed on Vashi during the ministry of Rev. K M Philip, Vicar of Chembur Parish in 1982. As more members moved to live in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, there began to grow a dream of having a church at Vashi. The untiring and relentless efforts of Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa (then Rev. Joseph Jacob), Rev. K M Philip, along with the members of Chembur Mar Thoma Church and members of Vashi prayer group, resulted in acquiring of a land of 1020 sq.mtrs. from CIDCO in 1985, through Western India Zonal Assembly.
The foundation stone, to the structure you see today, was laid by the Diocesan Episcopa, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Irenaeus (now. Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan) on 30th March 1986. The Parish was consecrated on 13th October 1988 by Rt. Rev. Joseph Kar Irenaeus Episcopa. Soon Vashi became an independent Parish, on 1st January 1989 and was named "St. Paul's Mar Thoma Syrian Church". Rev. George Mathe became the 1st Vicar of the Parish.
Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius had the vision of having the Mumbai Diocese and an Aramana at Vashi. Thirumeni's prayers were answered and Mar Thomas Centre was constructed at Vashi; in which the Aramana occupied the 2nd floor, the Diocesan office and St. Paul's MTC Vicar's Parsonage on the 1st floor and Parsonage for the Bishop's Secretary on the 3rd floor.
Under the able guidance and nurturing of Diocesan Bishops Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius, Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos, Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas and Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos, Vashi Parish has grown. The spiritual leadershp and direction of our Dicesan Episcopa Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Theethos has aided in transforming and strenghthening the Church.
The Parish has been strongly associated with ecumenical activities. There has been active involvement in the Centre activities, local level and society linked activities. We have been privileged to hold worships and meetings of the Diocese and Navi Mumbai Centre at the Church. The Managing Committee / Elected / Nominated consist of 33 members with the Edavaka Mission, Sevika Sangham, Yuvajana Sakhyam, Sunday School, Choir, Senior Citizen Fellowship and Youthful Mind Fellowship functioning actively.
We thank God for His manifold blessings and grace and pray that the Vashi Parish may continue to be a beacon for sister parishes and be a useful and powerful tool in His Holy Ministry.